“A beginner’s guide to lifting a Jeep Wrangler”? Well, don’t try to lift with your legs. You’ll just wind up in the hospital.

But in all seriousness, lifting your Jeep, while a popular modification, is one that you have to approach with caution. Shoddy workmanship can doom your new Jeep. Wrong-sized tires, poor handling, and the infamous “death wobble” can turn your adventures from exhilarating to bleak. Before you embark upon your first real set of mods, learn what to know.

First Things First: Why?

This modification is a big one. Ask yourself: are you doing it for the right reasons? Many off-road enthusiasts choose to lift their Jeep because it’s one way to improve ground clearance, giving the Jeep more shock absorption and more space to handle rough trails without doing damage to the undercarriage. Other Jeep drivers have a simpler reason for lifting the Jeep: they think it looks cool. Lifting a Jeep should put function ahead of form. If you’re modifying your suspension for purely aesthetic reasons, reconsider. Maybe just paint some flames on the side instead.

After Asking Why, Don’t DIY

You can, in theory, install your own suspension lift kit. As a beginner to the world of Jeeps, however, you may want to defer to the professionals on this one. While Jeeps are renowned for their ruggedness, they’re also deceptively delicate. Upsetting the delicate balance of a Jeep’s construction can bring about the death wobble, in which the Jeep begins to shake uncontrollably. A well-installed suspension will prevent this dangerous and destructive Jeep phenomenon.

Stay Within Budget, But Stay Safe

If you’re planning to spend money on a whole host of Jeep modifications, take things one step at a time. Lifting your suspension may only be a three-inch difference, but it’s not a cheap one. Rather than try to do all your mods at one time, make a sensible investment in your suspension lift and put off other modifications for now—cool seat covers and floor liners can wait. You don’t want to cut corners by cutting costs when it comes to a suspension.

Get the Right Tires

Closing out our beginner’s guide to lifting your Jeep Wrangler is one area where you do want to spend the right money: your tires. Once you lift your Jeep, you’ll have more room for bigger tires better suited for off-roading. Be sure to match your tires with your newly modded Jeep. Air them down for off-roading and make sure they’re suited for the terrain you plan to conquer, whether that’s muddy trails, sand dunes, or rough mountain roads.